Thrashing machine



H. V15. woHLGEMuTH Dec. 2, 1924.

` Fiied June 4 Sheets-Sheet I 1 ATTORNEYS Dec. 2j, 1924.

H. E. woHLGEMuTi-l THRASHING MACHINE f Filed June 6, 1.923

A TTORNEYS 'WJTNESSES lf, A I

Dec, 2, 1924. 1,517,481

H. E. WOHLGEMUTH THRASHING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR /-Z ghz 65M d 7F19 A TTQRNBYS ruuuulf m NY W I TNE Dec, 2, 1924.

1,5 I7,481 H. E. woHLGEMU'rH THRASHING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Dee., 2, 1924.

HENRY E. WOHLGEYMUTH, or DURHAM, Kansas.

THRASHING MACHNE.

Application filed June 6, 1923.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. WOHL- GnMUTI-r, a citizen of the United States, and a. resident of Durham, in the county of Marion `and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thrashing Machines, of which `the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in thrashing machines, and has for its object to provide a machine of this character wherein the grain is thoroughly threshed in an eective and eiiicient manner without setting` up in the machine severe and destruc tive vibration whereby the life of the thrashing machine is considerably prolonged, and in which the parts of the machine are readily accessible for purposes 0f adjustment, re placement and repair.

A further object is to provide a thrashing machine of this character and having these advantages and in which side draft is eliminated and wherein the possibility of twine or straw tangling and massing in the arms of the beater is precluded, the thrashing machine being at the same time of simple, durable construction, reliable in operation and easy and comparatively inexpensive t0 manufacture and operate. Y' A' n Other objects and/advantages'of the'rinvention're'sidein' certain novel features of the construction, combination and arrangementfof parts 'which will be hereinafter `more "fully described fand particularly pointed out inthe' appended'vclaims, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings forming part of this specification, and in which:

' Figure lis a diagrammatic v'iew,"in ele-V vation, showing the interior of the machine and the general arrangement of the parts; n Figure y2 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, thecasing or housing of the thrashingy ymachine and other parts being broken away to fillustrate the construction; A

Figure 3 isa View similar' to'Figure 2, looking at'the en'dvof the machine and showy ing parts'in end elevation;

Figure 4 fs a fragmentary view, showing the parts in plan and parts in horizontal s ection 'and with the casing'or housing and other parts being broken away 'for' the sake of illustration;

Serial No. 643,801.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view in perspective; and

Figure 6 is a detail view similar to Figure 5, but showing the parts assembled.V

Referring to the drawings wherein for the sake of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 10 designates a conventional wheeled frame upon which a conventional housing or casing 11 is mounted tov protect and contain the major operating parts of the thrashing machine. The wheeled frame 10 and the housing 11 in themselves form no part of the present invention and may be of conventional construction except as hereinafter pointed out. At the front endof ythe machine a transversely extending horizontal shaft 12 is arranged and is 'journaled in bearings 13 providedin a casting 14 bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a wheeled frame 10 and to side plates 15 having lugs 16 secured by bolts and nuts 17 to the frame'. These side plates 15 are, also provided with bearings 17 in which the shaft 12 is also journaled. On the centralportion of the shaft 12 and consequently centrally of the thrashing machinea main pulley, designated generally at 18,' is fixed and comprisestwo metallic sections 19 between which a section 20 of fiber is interposed, thesection'sv "19 and 20 being heldtogether in assembly by bolts and nuts 21` By locating'tlie pulley 18 cen! trally of the machine side draft is eliminated and by constructing the pulley with acentral section of iiber'the frictionalengagement of the belt with its'pulley isenhanced so that a more effective' power transmission On each sideof the pulley18 -a thrashing unit, designated generally at 22 provided. These'thrashing units -are of identical construction so that a common description will serve for both. 'Each includes a rotating disk 23 made up 'of'two circularplates '21' and 25 assembled in face to face'relation'V and held together by bolts and nuts 26l extending ment. The hubs 27 are keyed or otherwise suitably fixed to the portion of the shaft locatedbetween the bearings 13 and 17. Each disk 22 carries a plurality of horizontal and laterally extending teeth 28 arranged in radial sets, as shown in Figure 2. iks shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6, each tooth 28 includes a pointed body portion and a squared portion or head 3() beyond which and on the opposite side of the body portion 29 a reduced and threaded stein 31 extends. When the teeth 28 are assembled with the disk 22 the head portion 30 of each tooth is received in a squared opening 32 provided therefor in the plate 2st and the stem 3l. is received in a circular opening 33 provided therefor in the plate 25. ln the assembly the squared portions or heads 30 of the teeth are fitted in the squared openings 32 of the plate 2l and the threaded stems 3l extend through the circular openings 33 of the plate 25 and project beyond the plate and on the projecting portions of the stems 33,-nuts 34: are threaded. The circular openings 33 are smaller than the squared openings 32 and are smaller than the squared portions 30 of the teeth 2S so that when the nut-S34; are threaded up against the plate 35the teeth 28 are firmly held against endwise movement lby the coaction of the heads 30andnuts 3l with the plate 25 and these teeth are also firmly held against rotary movement by .virtue of the coaction between the squared .portions 30 and the walls of the squared openings 32 with which they engage. Each of the rotating toothed disks 22 coact with a fixed ,and toothed breast 35 which takes the shape of a quadrant and which is alsomade up of a pair of plates, designated at 36 and.3. bolted or otherwise suitably secured to each other in assembly. The plates 36 and 37 have mounted thereon a plurality ofteeth 38 arranged in radial sets and associated with the plates `of the breast in precisely the same manner as the teeth 28 ofthe disk 22 are associated with the plates thereof.I The plate 37 of the breast has integrally formed therewith or suitably secured therewith vertically alined apertured lugs 39. In the apertures of the lugs 39 a vertical rod 40 is adjustably fitted and is secured in adjusted position by set screws 4:1 carriedby the lugs 39 and engaging the rod 40. The rod l0 is mounted for rotary or turning movement around its vertical axis in bearings 42 provided on the plate l5 with this arrangement the breast may be adi usted vertically onthe rod 40 so as to bring its teeth into the desired relation with respect to the teeth of the disk 22 as shown in Figure 3. Moreover the breast 35 may be swungtoward or away `from the disk 22 since the rod. lO on which it is mounted may beturned about its vertical axis. ln order to hold the breast 35 in assembly or in operative relation with respect to the disk 22 a plurality of threaded studs 43 are carried by the frame lland extend through openings provided therefor in the breast ling nuts 44 eoact with these threaded studs and are engageable with the outer plate of the breastto hold the same in position. The portion of the frame with which the thrashing units are mounted is of semi-annular or semi-cylindrical formation as indicated at 45, so as to conform yto the `contour of the disks 22.` It. lis to be understood at this point that the grainto be vthreshed is fed against the disks 22 above the breast 35 and is carried by therotating disks and the teeththereof down through ythe space between the .disks l22 andbreast 3wherein the coacting teeth of the disk and breast thoroughlyfand effectively thresh the grain. fter passing through lt-hisspace the grain and straw come intoI thel field of Vaction of beaters 50, one such beater 50 beingprovided for each thrashing unit. A common shaft ,5l is provided forthe vtwo beaters and isl liournaled ,for rotaryv moveme'ntin bearings 52 providedoirfeach side of the trameO.v vThe beaters 50 are of identical construction and each. includes ahuby adjustably secured or aflixd on .theishaft by a ,set screw or `othersuitable .means,desig nated at 54.. )integrally.formed or suitably secured to the head 53and radially entend-` ing therefroinare anumberof arms 55, each of which carries a, beater blade As shown ,in Figure 2 Athe.. beater-blades Aeach traverse aportifon, of the disk 22 with .which the `beater is associated,;.the beater rotating, in the same direction as the disk.V Thebeater blades 54 are in the form of flat and substantially rectangular bars -and the portions of such bars which extend toward the teeth of the disk 22 with `whiclrthe beater is associ.- atedy arev provided with a,pluralityloit ill: clined slots 57, the slots vbein'g" inclined toward the rear of the machine and toward the disk 22 with which the beater is associ. ated. rlhese inclined slots kpreventfthge straw: and twine from tangling in the arms ofthe beater and at the Sametime provide abeater `blade having ay number of fingerswhich yare effective to further the thrashing action, and to carry the straw and grain from the thrashing units onto la, grate, .designated generally at GO andlocatedibelow the beatery and forwardly of the thrashingunits. The grate 60 is of arcuate formfso asito conform to the `sweep of the.l beaters and portions thereof which lie belowthe beaters are slotted, as at 61, toqprovide a.- grate struc.- ture. Below the slotted :gportions lof the `efrateGO` a deflector or baffle-62 is arran-ged and feeds the grain ,which falls through the slot 6l :onto the` conveyor', 63.- The conveyor G3 is of the endless belt typer and .its belt or web 64 is preferably made up of canvas and is provided at regular spaced intervals with transverse `slats or bars 65 butin other respects the conveyor 63 is of conventional construction and is kmounted and driven in conventional manner, The conveyor 63 feeds the grain to the usual sieve 66 which may be of any conventional construction and whi-ch has the conventional elevator (not shown) associated therewith in the usual manner, It is to be understood at .this point thatthe features herein shown and described as constituting the present invention are adapted and are proposed for association and use with the instrumentalities ordinarily and conventionally employed on thrashing machines and well known to those skilled in the. art9 except of course those instrumentalities herein especially noted as replaced orl omitted.

The straw and grain which remain there with on the grate 60 is delivered by the beaters onto the series of spiked rollers 70.

In order to insure delivery of the straw and grain remaining therewith from the beater onto the rollers a deflecting board or baffle 68 is provided and depends from the top of the casing behind the beater and is inclined so as to deliver the straw and grain remaining therewith which is thro-wn from the beater onto the rollers 70. The rollers of the series 70 extend transversely of the machine and are mounted for rotation about their horizontal aXes. Moreover they are provided in such manner that the series eX- tends from a point beneath the grate 60 to the rear of the machine. Each of the rollers 70 of the series has its axis or trunnions mounted for rotation in bearings 71 provided on a framework 72 and is provided with a plurality of rows of spikes 7st. Preferably siX such rows of spikes 74e are provided on each roller and each row of spikes extends longitudinally of this roller, the spikes of each row extending radially from the roll. The spikes of adjacent rollers are staggered so that when the rollers rotate the spikes will not encounter each other.

Means is provided for rotating all of the rollers in the same direction and in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. For this purpose one end of the shaft or axis on which each ro-ller rotates projects beyond its bearing, and such projecting portion of each shaft has fixed thereto a pulley 75. Also below and adjacent pulleys 75 of adjacent rollers an idle pulley 76 is arranged and is adjustably mounted if found desirable and a belt 77 is trained around the pulleys 7 5 and in the idle pulleys 76 and also around a pulley 78 fixed to a shaft 79 driven by belts and pulleys 80 or other suitable gearing from the shaft 12.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings the series of rollers 70 overlie not only over the slatted canvas conveyor 63 but also the sieve 66 and beyond the sieve a return chute or pan 82 is provided and is disposed belowk the rollers and inclined toward and feeds to the sieves 66. f

The straw and the grain delivered onto the rollers 70 is carried to? the rear of the machine on these rollersy and as: it. passesy from one roller to the other it is subjected to the thrashing section of the spikes of the rollers which` beat the straw and otherwise act upon it to separate therefrom the remain ing grain andf'chaff. This grain and chaffl in the first instance falls onto the slatted conveyor 65 and as the straw is fed along the rollersk beyond the sla-tted' conveyor 65 the separated chaff and grain `falls onto the sieves 66 and finally it falls between the rearmost rollers of the series onto `the. ref turn chute 82 from whenceit is delivered back to the sieves by the action of t-he spikes 74 on the lower parts of the rollers overlying the return pan 82. The straw is carried over all of the rollers and thrown from the rearmost one into the blower and stack wherein it is handled in the usual manner.

The driving mechanism fo-r the rollers 70 has been described and on referring to Figure 4 it will be seen that the beater shaft 51 is also driven from the shaft 12 by belt gearing 86. The shaft 12 serves as the main drive shaft of the machine and as indicated by the fragmentary showing of the belt and pulley gearing in Figure 4 and the showing in Figure l, it is proposed to drive the various instrumentalities of the machine from the shaft 12. With the disks 23 rotating in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis and having horizontally projecting teeth and coacting with similarly constituted breasts 35 the grain fed into the thrashing unit will be thoroughly acted upon by the coacting` teeth and the thrashing action performed will be highly efficient as contrasted with the poor action of the conventional cylinder and concave wherein the grain when it comes in contact with the cylinder tends tor swing to the outside of the cylinder where it will not be effectively operated upon by the teeth of the cylinder and concave.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the vibration which is severe and destructive in the conventional thrashing machines ordinarily employed has been practically eliminated. rlhis then is obtained by virtue of the provision of the slatted canvas conveyor 62 in lieu of the old shaking grain pan and the employment of the series of spiked rollers and return pan neither of which shake and which respectively replace the vibrating straw shakers heretofore employed and the vibrated return pan.

l claim:

1. In a thrashing machine, a disk ar- 2. Inra thrashing machine, a rotating disk made up of twoplates secured together in face to face relation, a plurality of tee-th projecting beyond the plates and carried thereby, one of the plates having squared openings andthe other 'of the plates having rounded openings, the teethl having? squared portions snugly fitted in the squared openings of one plate and having rounded portions litted in the rounded open'- ings` of the other plate and projecting'beyond the same and nuts threaded on the rounded portions of the teeth and engaging the adjacent plate.

3.* In a thrashing machine, a rotating disk having laterally projecting teeth and a oooperablef breast having teeth cooperating with the teeth of the disk, said breast being mounted for swinging movement about its vertieal a-Xis, means for holding the breast in cooperative relation with respect to the'disk.

4. ln a thrasher, a. rotating disk having laterally projecting teeth, a breast having f eooperable teeth, said breast having vertioally alined apertured lugs', a rotating rod extending thro-ugh the apertures of the lugs, meanseoope-rable with the lugs and rods for securing the breast in vertical adjustment on said rod, and means for securing thebreast in cooperative' relation with respect to the disk.

HENRY E. VOHLGEMUTH. llitnesses Jol-1N B. WILS,` PETER RATZLAFF'. 

